CLEF launched in Kenya and Tanzania in 2014 and has awarded more than 60 bursaries for study to deserving students from rural communities in which Africa Foundation operates. This year CLEF awarded bursaries to two aspiring young students:
CLEF beneficiary: Joshua
Studying: Diploma in Education
Home town: Saparingo, Kenya
Joshua was born and grew up in Saparingo village at the top of the escarpment, eight kilometres from andBeyond’s Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp. The village has a small population of around 700 people, who live in an unfenced community surrounded by wildlife and bush.
The central market place is the hub of the village, but there are no shops and no formal infrastructure aside from the Saparingo Primary School. With little opportunity for employment, aside from nearby lodges and farms, the community life is difficult.
Joshua sold sweets and worked on a construction site to raise money to pay his registration fees towards a Diploma in Education, a dream that will now come to fulfilment as a result of being awarded a CLEF bursary.
His ideal is to see an increase in girl children from his community being educated beyond primary school level. He hopes to encourage girls to study further once he has qualified as a teacher.
CLEF beneficiary: Tezra
Studying: Diploma in Water Quality and Laboratory Technology
Home town: Lukungu, Tanzania
Tezra is in the mission to help her community of Lukungu, Tanzania to overcome at least some of the challenges they face. Lukungu is located on the eastern shores of lake Victoria and has a population of bout 4000 people, split over 654 households.
Although it is close to the relatively well-serviced town of Lamadi, Lukungu has only one primary school and faces many of the challenges common to rural communities, including the obtaining a regular supply of safe, potable water.
It is for this reason that Tezra decided to study towards a Diploma in Water Quality and Laboratory Technology at the Water Resource Institute of Tanzania. Not only does she believe that this diploma will allow her to achieve financial freedom, but she hopes it will also allow her to contribute to improving the lives of her family and that of her community.